Table 2.

Summary of qualitative findings by theme and responder status.

Theme	High responders (n=9)	Low responders (n=10)
Intervention content	Perceived information as novel and personally relevant for improving their own surgical health. Changed risk perceptions related to alcohol use and surgery. Opportunity for longer discussions with a nonjudgmental health coach was important (health coaching only).	Information is novel and believable but perceived as only relevant to others who have a more serious “alcohol problem.” The information about alcohol and surgical risk was not shared before past surgeries and therefore inconsistent.
Intervention modality	Participants reported intervention was an acceptable modality and length.	Phone modality limited personal connection, and length was too short to discuss a sensitive topic like alcohol use (brief advice only).
Other influential factors: study assessments	Completing study assessments, which included completing a daily calendar of alcohol use increased awareness and motivation to change.	Completing study assessments increased awareness of alcohol use and motivation but intervention did not (brief advice only).
Other influential factors: intervention language	No thematic findings.	The term intervention caused negative reactions and contributed to participants thinking their alcohol use was not heavy enough for study participation.
Other influential factors: surgery factors	Surgery preparation and recovery influenced choice to reduce or stop drinking for a period of time independent of the intervention content. More intensive surgeries, longer healing time, and continued use of opioid-based pain medications linked to longer alcohol abstinence.	Less intensive surgery and shorter healing time linked to faster return to alcohol use.